Former Ohio State star John Hicks dead at 65

COLUMBUS - College Football Hall of Fame lineman and former Ohio State University star John Hicks has died at age 65.

A message sent Sunday on Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer’s Twitter account stated: “RIP to Buckeye legend John Hicks.” Columbus news outlets reported that Hicks’ family said he died overnight of complications from diabetes.

Hicks won both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Trophy in 1973 as the nation’s outstanding lineman. The right tackle finished second in Heisman Trophy voting that season.

The former New York Giants NFL player is also in the Ohio State athletics hall of fame and the Rose Bowl hall of fame.

Two-time Heisman-winning Buckeye running back Archie Griffin told The Columbus Dispatch that the Cleveland native was “a giant on and off the field.”

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